Single trigger device



Sept. l5, 1942. F. T. FAHLEN 2,295,941

SINGLE TRIGGER DEVICE Filed March 3l, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 rv'gh/searra/Ised 65,533

INVENTOR @ww a y! "a'fl(4v,

ATTORNEY l Sept. 15, 1942. FQT, FAHLEN 2,295,941

SINGLE THIGKGER DEVICE Filed March 33., 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 72 INVENTOR Sept. l5, 1942. F. T. FAHLEN 2,2959@ .SINGLE TRIGGER DEVICE Filed March 51, 1959 4 Sheets-sheet 4 Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UNE TED STTES 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in small firearms, more especially to the trigger mechanism of said firearms. disclosure the improved trigger mechanism is embodied in a double-barreled shot gun, either ofthe horizontal or over and under types (or rifles), but this disclosure is not to be regarded as a limitation upon the adaptation of the invention because its principles aresuch as to make it suit other ordnance of the same general kind.

Reference is made to Patent 2,134,604, of October 25, 1938; to Frederick T, Fahlen for a single trigger device,- of which the instant invention is a particular improvement. The instant disclosure represents a simplification of the patented device at least in respect to the trigger arrangement. The firearm is now equipped with a solitary trigger as distinguished from the twin triggers of the patent, said solitary trigger being made to perform all of the functions capable of being performed by the twin triggers, and in addition to that said solitary trigger has instrumentalities for enabling the selection of the barrel to be iired first.

This-provision for selection is a development from the fact that the respective barrels of either of the foregoing types of double-barreled shot guns are of full caliber and choke caliber bores. Usually the rightbarrel has the full caliber bore while the left barrel has. the choke bore. The fullicaliberv bore provides-for shooting an object at a less-distance from-the gun than that for which the choke bore is intended. The latter prevents a spreading of the pellets of the shell when the latter is red, the resulting reduced dispersion enabling long-range shooting more effectively than with the full caliber` bore. With this preamble in mind the objects of the invention are as. follows:

First, toV provide atrigger mechanism for a plurally-barreled firearm, which mechanism is so constructed as to. make it possible for the shooter to choose the barrel to be red-rst, that barrel thus becoming the leader of the firing sequence, the main functions necessary to thev accomplishment of said sequences being under the direct control of a solitary trigger,

Second, to provide a trigger mechanism for a double-barreled shotgun or rifle (but which as "i far as the principle of said mechanism is concerned might comprisemore than two barrels), employing a solitary trigger having an auxiliary sea-r embodied in it to constitute a unitary combination therewith, said auxiliary sear' being sub- According to the instant' ject to a stepsetting whereby to determine which of the two barrels is to be 'fired rst.

Third, to provide a trigger mechanism of the 'at least one of the principal sears.

Fifth; to provide a firearm of the foregoing ch'aracter wherein the spring-pressure progression of the trigger-carriedvauxiliary sear is controlled by the coaction of a latch, also triggercarried, with the trigger plate, the displacement of the latch and the release of the auxiliary sear being accomplished automatically upon pulling the trigger, v

Sixthyto provide a firearm wherein the prin- "cipal sear is employed as a detent for the triggercarried auxiliary sear, the riding of the latter against the principal sear providing the previously mentionedarc of idle motion.

Seventh, to provide a rearm wherein the vsolitary trigger has combined with it the means for changing the adjustment of the auxiliary sear, both said Sear and the latch for the latter beingmounted on the trigger.

Other objects and advantages will appear in theY following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure ll is a side elevation of a Winchester gun receiver, illustrating the embodiment of the improved trigger mechanism, the auxiliary sear beingin the position of its manual or abnormal setting.

Figure 2 is a partially sectional and elevational view of the trigger'v mechanism positioned similarly to Fig. 1.

Fig. 3'is a detail-plan view illustrating the relationship of the auxiliary sear in Fig. 2 to the right and'left principal sears.

Figure 4 is a partially sectional and elevational view of the trigger mechanism illustrating the action resulting from the first pull of the trigger.

Figline' 5 is a detail plan View illustrating the change in relationship of the auxiliary sear in Figfbto the right and left principal sears.

Figure-6 is a partially sectional and elevational View of the trigger mechanism illustrating the shifted position of the auxiliary sear.

Figure 7 is a detail plan view showing the relationship of the auxiliary Sear in Fig. 6 to the right and left principal sears.

Figure 8 is a partially sectional and elevational view of the trigger mechanism illustrating the action upon the second pull of the trigger.

Figure 9 is a detail View illustrating the changed relationship of the auxiliary sear in Fig. 8 to the right and left principal sears.

Figure 10 is a partially sectional and elevational view illustrating the iinai position of the auxiliary sear.

Figure 11 is a detail view showing the relationship of the auxiliary sear in its nal position to the right and left principal sears.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the solitary trigger, its customarily movable parts being left off.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the auxiliary sear, constituting one of the movable parts, as seen from one side.

Figure 14 is a perspective View of the auxiliary sear as seen from the opposite side.

Figure 15 is a perspective view of the latch, constituting another movable part of the solitary trigger.

Figure 16 is a perspective View of the auxiliary sear setting yoke.

Figure 17 is a side elevation of a Parker gun receiver illustrating the embodiment of the improved trigger mechanism which is constructed on the same principle as that of the Winchester gun receiver, but modified in some respects to suit the reverse action of the Parker gun.

Figure 18 is a sectional and elevational view of parts shown in Fig. 17, illustrating an auxiliary sear setting for ring the left barrel first.

Figure 19 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line |9-I9 of Fig. 17.

Figure 20 is a perspective view of the trigger in Fig. 17, the moving parts being omitted.

Figure 21 is a perspective view showing one side of the modied auxiliary sear in Fig. 17.

Figure 22 is a perspective view showing the opposite side of said auxiliary sear.

Figure 23 is a partially sectional and elevational view of a trigger mechanism for a Winchester gun receiver as in Fig. 1, illustrating a further modification of the auxiliary sear.

Figure 24 is a view similar to Fig. 23, illustrating the manual or abnormal setting for firing the gun.

Figure 25 is a partial sectional and elevational view of the structure in Fig. 23 illustrating the action upon the first pull of the trigger.

Figure 26 is a view similar to Fig. 25 illustrating the action of the mechanism upon the rst release of the trigger.

Figure 27 is a perspective view of the lever structure by which the auxiliary sear in Fig. 23 is adapted to be set.

Figure 28 is a perspective view of one side of the modied auxiliary sear.

Figure 29 is a perspective view of the opposite side of said auxiliary sear.

In carrying out the invention the improved trigger mechanism is shown embodied in a receiver designated I in Fig. 1 and Ia in Fig. 17, The reason for the distinction is that Fig. 1 down to Fig. 16 illustrates the adaptation of the invention to a Winchester gun while Fig. 17 down to Fig. 22 illustrates the adaptation 0f the in- Vention to a Parker gun. All parts in the latter agreeing With those in the Winchester receiver are identied by corresponding reference numerals Without necessarily repeating the description, supplemented with the exponent letter a to keep the distinction clear.

rPhe receiver I is to be regarded as belonging to a double-barreled shot gun. The barrels are omitted. One of the hammers is shown, namely the left hammer 3. The right hammer is not shown but it will be understood that the right principal sear 4 (Figs. 3 and 4) is the same in every respect to the left principal sear 5, the functions of these sears, as is commonly known, being to hold the respective hammers in their cocked positions, as in the instance of the hammer 3 (Fig. 1). Each of the hammers is springpressure operated. For this purpose each has a notch 8, as in the instance of the hammer 3, to which one end of a heavy spring (not shown) is applied, the opposite end of said spring being anchored in the forward end of the receiver.

Each hammer also has a bottom shoulder 9, as in the instance of the hammer 3 (Fig. 1) with which the respective principal sear 5 engages to hold the hammer in its cocked position. The trigger is now designated 6. This is a solitary trigger. It is pivoted at IIJ to a mount II' Which is generally made integral With the trigger plate I2.

Attention is directed to the structure of the solitary trigger 6. This has a plate portion I3 (Fig. 12) which is continued as spaced upward extensions I4, I5. These extensions dene a recess I6 for the occupancy of the auxiliary sear. The plate portion I3 has a bore I'I which begins at the bottom IS of the recess and is driven well toward the trigger 6 as clearly shown for example in Fig. 10.

Slots 9 provide openings between the bore I'I and the sides of the plate portion I3. This bore is for the occupancy of the latch, A slender rod 2i] is fixed at its extremities in the extensions I4, I5 in spaced relationship to the bottom I8 and in parallelism thereto, and in a position to intersect the axis of the bore. In other words, the rod 20 occupies a position directly over the open end of the bore.

The extension I4 has a hole 2| for the reception of the pivot pin Ill. The extension I5 has an oiset 22 in the direction of the extension |14, so as to overlie a part of the recess I6. This oiset broadens the bearing for a lug on the safety setting rod. The top of the extension I5 is grooved at 2 3.

The previously mentioned auxiliary sear is generally designated 24 (Figs. 13 and 14). It comprises a relatively small block of metal which is generally defined by a midportion 25. The top edge of this midportion has three staggered teeth 25, 2'I, and 28. The first tooth 26 comprises an extension of the front sear Wall 29. The bottom part of this same wall comprises the front of a bottom tooth 3U. The latter has a companion tooth 3|. Thus there are three teeth on top of the midportion 25 and two teeth on the bottom thereof.

Said teeth except 3| have the profile of saw teeth, the bevels situated medially lthereof being useful in accomplishing a more easy sliding of the auxiliary scar under the right angled extensions of the principal sears 4, 5. The teeth 25, 30, are extended laterally at 32 to one side of the midportion 25. The teeth 21, 3| are extended laterally at 33 (Fig. 14) to the other side of the midportion 25. The tooth 23 is part the-upper plate. The neck 55 'of the safetylever...

of `an enlargement 341which also extends lat l 55 rides between these lugs andas the finger.-rv

erally of the midportion y25 .and-.to the sameV side asdoesthe extension 32.y SaidV lateral f extensions are continuous from top, .to bottom, defining flutes` contiguousto the extensionswhich.v constitute unobstructedpassageways. These .pa's-v p sageways, because. of their lack ofV any obstruc. tions frorrntop torbottomare .a positiveassurance against. an inadvertent raisingpf the Vun-v midportion25,. and provides.. for .the slidable.

mounting of the-.auxiliary Sear-:upon the. rod 20.. A spring -36 Ytendsto keeptheauxiliary sear. 24 pressed forwardly. of the-.trigger y2i..ir1..the

recess I6.,y This spring is carriedbya.portion,V

of the rodV 2|), its. opposite ends abutting the extension l5 and the. inner side of theauxiliary sear. To. this. end the lateral extension of the enlargement .34 is useful in increasing the. area of thecontiguous spring abutment.

By virtue of -the .fact that the ,rodL-Dasses directly over the latch bore it follows that the auxiliary sear 24 will be. guided correctly with respect to said bore. Thenether. side-3l of the `.auxiliarysear is flat and rests uponthe bottom I8. and 28. also ride the bottom, this arrangement preventing the turning of the auxiliary sear on the rod 2G. A latch 33 (Fig. 15) is slidably carried in the. bore Il. This latch has a single tooth 39 which is adapted toengage .either one of the teeth 35, 3| (Figs. 2 and) The purpose of thislatch is to hold the aux-v iliary sear 2li back againstthe tension of the spring 36. Its primary purpose is to retainthe auxiliary'sear in either one of two positions for. initially raising either Vthe left or the right principal sear uponv the first pull of thetrigger G.

l/Vhen in the first position (Fig. 2) the tooth. 26 is adapted to raise .the left scar 5 on the .first pull of the trigger 6. When vin thaposition ini.

Fig. 6, the-tooth. Z'l is adapted to raise therightscar 4 upon the first pull.ofthe.trigger. E..

A spring in thebore ilbeneath the-latch 3S presses the latter upward. The latch usually has a hole il (Fig. 15) for the. occupancyof the upper end of said spring.- although this is not always essential. A pair of laterally directed pins 2 rider the slots |9 and extendslight distances beyond the side faces. of vthe plateA portion i3 so as to beengageablewithvthenether face of the trigger plate l2.

It is this engagement which causes-the auto-,-

matic recession of the latch 38. into the bore Il upon the pulling of the trigger 5. (Figs. 4 and v8). The latch is thus released from the auxiliary sear and the latter-is enabled .to-make.

a forward step under the impulse. of the spring 362` The setting yoke (Fig.- 16) now designated d3,

Thel bottom edgesof the teeth 3|).

comprises a fork 44 .which depends from a block 45, This block has a hole 45 which receives. the rod 41 (Fig. 1)v of the conveniently termed sete ting` device 48. A pin 49 is driven throughthe block and the rod.. each having matching holes..

for. the purpose tosecure the yoke li3 on the setting rod.

Said setting device, incidentally comprising.

This fingen-piece has piece 55 is slidback and forthfthe safety lever is Aturned on` itsl pivot 51. mount on the trigger plate |2.

The settingl rod. 41 is pivoted atr 58 to the..

safety. lever 5S. Said rod has cross sectionally round and rectangular parts, as can readily' be. deduced from Fig. 1J the cross sectionally rec.

tangular part having a depending lug 59.`which is adapted to override. the trigger offset .22 andA hold the trigger down against being pulled. This comprisesthe safety position, and it is. so designated and shown in full lines in Fig. 1.

in a hole in the mount the frontend off said rod being so positioned with respect to certain gun parts 59 that when motion is imparted to the4 latter in the cocking of the gun by means. yof the lever 6|, a backward. thrust is imparted.

'to the setting rod so as to shift it from an.in..

wardly forward position (arrived at by sliding the finger-piece 53 to the safety-01T. position) to the full line position previously mentioned.

A leaf spring 62 is mounted on the lugs 52, 53, the former having a cross pin 53 whichsustains the bowed spring in its frictional working position against the nether side of the upper plate 5|.

agreeing with the safety position andthe safety.. @if position of the safety lever 56.` A triggery spring 67. is mounted on the safety lever` 5B.

I Oneof itsfree, ends bearsup against the rod., '151, the other free.. end beingfpocketed in4 the..

groove 23 of the trigger 26.

Attention is again directed to the right. and

left sears 4, 5 (Fig 4).. These have the cus.

tomary inwardly directed fingers 68, 69 (Fig- 3) .v These. fingers or their equivalents which .arevv common in the Winchester and Parker guns,A

arehereinmadeto serve a new purpose, namely,

to coact with the auxiliary sear 24 (Fig. 13) to., `produce what is conveniently termed an arcof idle motion. This are of idle motion represents an .involuntary relaxation of the trigger 6 and,y an immediately succeeding involuntaryv after vpull following the discharge of the rst barrel.

rel, The unwanted motions mentioned above cannot be prevented, but, they can be dissipated so asA to be rendered harmless, and this is accomplished by providing for the foregoing arc of idle. motion.

These statements. aordthe opportunity for describing the operation of the form of the. invention. in Figs. 1 to 16. The finger-piece 50 (Fig. 1) is ordinarily adapted to be manually` slid forward one step. turned to recock the hammers after thek barrels of. the gun have been fired. The cooking is accompanied by a motion of the gun parts 6B which thrusts the setting rod back to the full line or safety. position. (Fig.- 1).

cannot be pulled.` It is now that the slide de, moved one step forward. This will be the safety-- 01T position. It is not indicated in the drawing,

but itis easily understood that thelug 59 willstand in advance of the oiset 22` and that in accordance withthis the setting rod 41 will` be.. in. the forward position from which it eventually The latter has `a,

The.. round. part of the setting rod is slidably guided t The front end of the leaf spring is ybent into detent form at 64, and this detent is v adapted to snap into either of tworecesses 65, 6.6;

It Ais this involuntary pulling of the trigger which. in someknown types of guns causes the .premature andunwanted discharge of the second bar.

The cooking lever 6| is.,

The lug de then positioned over the` offset 22 and the trigger. 6.-.,

will againbethrustback upon a repeated cocking of the hammers.

The order of ring is herein regarded as a normal'right-left raising of the hammer sears That is to say', in the case of the horizontal barrel type the right to fire the concomitant'barrels..

barrel isr adapted to be redfrst, and then the left barrel. In the superimposed type either they l top or bottom barrel can be red first. In. order tol bring this about the setting yoke 43 will push the auxiliary sear 24 back vonly yfar enough lto l let the latch 38 engage the companion tooth 3l. From this it will bey understood, vas hask been suggested already, that the sole function of the set l ting yoke i3-is to reset the auxiliary sear 24 after the firing has been done. f

The extent of' backward movement of the yoke l 43 in the normal resetting of the device 48 to the' safety position. is only enough to push; the

auxiliary Sear 24 intofposition for theengagement of the latch 38 with the tooth 3|. That position of theauxiliary sear. is shown in Fig. 6. The sear tooth 2l isfthen in registration with ,l

the finger 68 of theright sear 4 (Fig- '7). The

' vtooth -28 is stillI behind the finger :59 of the left sear 5. f f v v Now visualize a pulling of the trigger 6 from the positioninv Fig. 6. IThis can be regarded as the iirst pull, counting from the particular posi-r 1 `tion of the auxiliary sear 24 now under discussion. 'Iherst pull designated in Fig. 4is based upon a reverse firing sequence which is presently described. The iirst. pull now under discussionis shown The tooth 21 rraisesy ther right sear The right barrel will be .red.. The

in Fig. 8. (arrow a).

ylateral pins 42. engage the nether side of the trigcess 65 whereupon Ait is simply permitted to rub f the `left barrel because of the tooth enlargement 34 beingunder said finger.

Thusthe snug order-.of the gun will be rightf left, this being predicated on an automatic rek'setting .of the auxiliary sear 24 bythe shifting of the 'Setting device 48y to the full line safety poe f sition by the normal cooking of the hammers. The result is. that the full bore `barrel is` discharged first and .then the choke Abore barrel. t

This order can be reversed for a left-right rual back setting of the iinger-piece 5U.

position (Fig. 1). The detentf64 leaves the reagainst the nether side of the plate 5l. The lsole function of this abnormalr setting o the linger-piece .56 is to bring the setting yoke 43. back'to the dotted line position dk (Fig. l).

In doing so the auxiliary sear 24 is pushed back one step farther than it is in the. previously def scribed normal voperation. In other words, the latch 38'is made tor catch thefbottom tooth l30.A

` This is shown inl Fig. 2 and it is from there thatr the trigger pulling sequences in Figs. 2 to l0,

specically designatedy in Figs. 4 and', arereadf able.

- The tooth 2.6 is inregistration with the finger ger plate i2 which producesv a depression of the latch 38 (arrow b). This releases the auxiliary sear 24 from the latch.` .The auxiliary scar moves forward a slightfdistance, eliminating the space l c (Fig. '7) the lateral enlargement 34 of the tooth 28 then abutting the nger 69 of the left sear 5 (Fig. 9).

It is now that the arc of idle motion is readily visualized. The left sear 5 is still down. Its position will match that of the right sear in Fig. 4. 'I'he enlargement 34 has virtually the entire vertical thickness of the finger 69 to rub against during the involuntary vibration of the trigger 6, following the firing of the right barrel, the iinger 69 thus acting as a temporary stop against the immediate further forward advance of the auxiliary sear. The trigger can be vibrated with the utmost freedom, either involuntarily or voluntarily, but as long as the enlargement 34 stays and rubs against the nger 69 the auxiliary sear will be stopped from its next forward step and it will be impossible to lire the left barrel.

Inasmuch as the enlargement 34, as in the instance of the other tooth enlargements, is clear from top to bottom there is no obstruction that could engage the iinger and thus inadvertently lift the left sear against the intentions of the user.

The ring of the left barrel is accomplished upon a full relaxation of the trigger 6. That position is shown in Fig. 10. The auxiliary sear 24 now moves to its farthest front position. The setting yoke 43 acts as a stop. The auxiliary sear overlies the latch 38 and keeps the latter de; pressed. The lateral enlargement 34 of the tooth 28 is now in registration with the finger 69 of the left sear 5 (Fig. ll). The next pull of the trigger 6 will, obviously, raise the left sear and lire knether side of thetriggerplate I2.

69 of the left sear 5 (Fig. 3). This means that the left sear .isl the rst of the .sears to be raised (arrow e, Fig. Ll)r upon the first pull of the trig- The latch 38 is again depressed (arrow f) f ger. by the engagement of the lateral pins 42 with the Thearc of idle motion comes in evidence again.- l The auxiliary sear then slipsA forwardly, eliminating the space g (Fig. 3), and bringing the lateral extension 33 of the tooth 2l against the right sear finger 4. It is unnecessary to repeat the functions incidental to this engagement, it being thought sufficient to say that the auxiliary sear is held back by the nger 68 until there is a full relaxation of ringer pressure upon the trigger. The latter then assumes the position in Fig. 6. The latch 38 engages the auxiliary sear in the companion tooth 3l. The enlargement of the tooth 2'! is now in registration with the finger 68 of the right sear 4. That sear is raised (arrow a, Fig. 8) by the second null of the trigger. When the trigger is again released (Fig. 10) the auxiliary sear 24 makes another step forward, but this time the step is idle and of no consequence because even if the trigger were pulled again the resulting raising of the left sear would not result in any response from the left barrel because 0f its having previously been red.

Reference is now made to Figs. 17 to 22 wherein the trigger 6a and auxiliary sear 24a are modied slightly to suit the characteristic action of the Parker setting device 43a. In this gun the trigger plate |2a carries a bracket 'l0 which elevates the pivot 51a of the safety lever 56a to a position approximately half way between the plates |2a and 5Ia. A rearward push on the loosely coupled setting rod 47a, in the cooking of the hammers by means of the cooking lever Gla, turns the safety lever 56a in the clockwise direction, as in the instance of Fig. l, but due to the elevation of the pivot 57a the extension 1| of said lever proceeds forwardly and this is contrary to the action of the safety lever 56 in Fig. l.

The result of this is that the auxiliary sear 24a is driven forwardly for resetting instead of rearwardlv as in Fig. 1.

This reversal offunction requires the following slight changes in the trigger and in the auxiliary sear. The offset 22a is now ldecidedly forked at 12 (Fig. 20). This fork 'is the result of deepening the groove 23 (Fig. 12). The fork 'l2 virtually constitutes a groove, but in any event it provides a guide for the terminal 73 vof the auxiliary sear (Fig. 21) the purpose of said terminal being to provide for the abutment of the extension 1| so that the auxiliary sear is vmoved forward readily when the safety lever 56a is turned in the proper direction. v

A cylinder rod T4 extends forwardlyfrom'the auxiliary sear. ThisI rod is loosely fitted inr a 'bore I5 in the mount Ila. The latter provides the abutment for one end of a spring 16. The other end'abuts the auxiliary sear and its purpose isY to tend to move the auxiliary sear backward.

The setting device 18a involves a slightly different structure from the setting device 48 in Fig. 1, but the principle of operation is the same.

The nether side of the upper plate I 5a' is now shown with an extra recess 'Il as a supplement to the safety and safety-off recesses'65 and 66a. The detent 64a on the iinger-piece-carried'member 62a is adapted Vto occupy any one of the various recesses.

The operation of the trigger mechanism for the Parker gun is now briefly described. Upon swinging the lever Bla for`cocking the hammers the setting rod 47a moves backwardly and'shifts the safety lever 56a. to the full line position (Fig. 17) from the dotted line position. The setting device 48a is then in the safety position. `This act causes the extension H to move the auxiliary sear 24a to the position shownin Fig. 17.

The latch 38a holdsthe'auxiliary sear at the companion tooth 31a. The tooth 27a isV in position to actuate the right sear 4a first. The finger-piece Sa is slid forwardly to the safety-off position, thus to restore the safety lever 56a to the dotted line position and to permit the raising of the trigger when finger pressure is applied.

This act Will cause the firing of the right barrel. The arc of idle motion then occurs between the nger 69a of the left trigger andthe enlargement 34a of the tooth 28 precisely -as before (Figs. 8 and 9).

Upon releasing the trigger'the auxiliary sear moves back until the rear surface of the tooth 26a abuts the adjacent Wall of the extension a. The tooth 28a is then in registration with the left sear linger 69a, and a subsequent pulling of the `trigger then causes the'firing of the left barrel. It will be understood from'this that the automatic setting of the auxiliary sear 24a by means of the setting rod 41a, as when cooking the hammers by turning the cooking lever Bla, initiates the right-left ring order as in Fig. 1.

The reversal of this order is obtained by'sliding the finger-piece 50a back one step from the safety-on position. This is done manually. -The result is a clockwise swinging of the safety lever 56a. from the full line position in Fig. 17 and an arrival of the parts at the positionshown in Fig. 18. The extension il again acts as a pusher against the terminal 73, but this time the auxiliary sear 24a is moved one'stepfarther front so that the latch tooth 39a catches it at the bottom tooth a (Fig. 18). The ng'er-#pieceia is next slid all the way front (dottedlines Fig. 17) ,"leaving the trigger 6a free to be pulled.

lil)

It is readily' understood from-1ig."18tliat the tootlfZawill actat'e theleft Sear Saj first; Ybeing 'in registration' with .the linger 69a.' Thelatch e 38a is' released I' by engagement With the bottom of the trigger plate l2a"asineFig.Q4, 'andthe 'auxiliary'sear lis next'caughtby the'latch' in its 'comp'aniontooth 3Ia. 'The secondpull 'ofthe trigger aetuates the right se'arda 'because of the toothj 27a beingA in` registration with 'the finger 68a. Thus'the firing' order in v'thelabnormal adljustment ofthe settingdevice is left-right.

Figs. ,23' to 29 illustrateY a furtherjmodication wherein the 4auxiliary sear is adapted4 toi be "manvually setfwith respectto the trigger -whichicarries it. In this modification 'all `parts agreeing with `Fig. V1l are 'given A'corresponding 'numbers without vnecessarily repeating the description, these being "supplemented by 4the-*":ei'rponent letter b. m

It is desired that the Winchester receiverA of Fig. l beA` visualized inconnection with this' modication. The' setting rod' Mb has a 'setting'yoke 43D as before, this yokebeing adaptedto automatically shift the-auxiliary sear 24bwhich in this instance is accomplished by va i turning.

The trigger Bb'has anl extension 15b 'surmounted bythe Yol`fset"`22b vwhich in this instance is deeply forked at '78.' Again thisfork-is avirtual equivalent of the groove 23 (Fig:y 12). 'Ihe space is now `used for-the mounting of A`thepivot pin 19 of the nlatch' 38h. vrThe 'latter-isf now of the swinging type. YIthas a heel ont-'one-lend and a headl -on 'the other end. Theheel Bil-'is adaptedv to engage thesetting rod; aspringt-Z tending to holdit in-theen'gaging position.

The auxiliary sear 24h (Figsf 28 and 529)* has an arrangement of teeth 261),?21-b and v28h` matching the tooth arrangement in Fig. 13. AThese teeth have-lateral enlargements 32b, 33h and-34h which appear as extensions beyond the-opposite sides of the-mid portion 25D, This portionis now extended so that itcomprises a pivotdplate 83. Said plate has a non-circular-hole v34- which receives they correspondingly shaped' key portion (Fig. 27) of a shaft-"86 of'the :'lever structure 37 in Fig. 27.

A lever 88Hon oneendofthefshaft (Figs. "23 and 27) provides for the manual turning offthe auxiliary sear. Theother end of the shaft is threaded at'89 (Fig. rk27) to Yreceive the 'securing nut 9D. The leverstructure 8l maybeheldin place by other suitable means, but the-arrangement shown in Fig. 27 makes itclear that'the auxiliary sear 24h is intended 'tobe heldrigidly on the shaft 86 so that the auxiliary seanwill turn when the lever 88 is moved in the' proper direction.

The pivot plate `83 of the auxiliary `4sear is mounted on the shaft 8B and has a"po"cket" 9| (Figl 25) in the trigger. 'Said pockethas"an openingV 92 to one side which contains one'end of a spring 93. The other end of said spring occupies an opening 94 in the auxiliary sean The function of the spring 4is to tend to Vturn the auxiliary sear vcounter-clockwise, but this turning is prevented as long as the he'ad` 8|' of the latch is in engagement with one of rthe'au'xiliary 'sear teeth.

"Figj2`3I illustrates the position of the trigger 'mechanism immediately following the 'resetting of the setting devicef'b by means of the setting rod (41 in Fig. 1). The resulting safety position is shown in full lines. The safety-offposition is arrivedat by'sliding the finger-piece (50 inlFig. l) forwardly one step. The auxiliary sear-24b is left in the full line position (Fig. 23). The relationship of the teeth 2lb, 2Gb to the right and left sears makes it easy to visualize the right-left firing of the barrels by succeeding pulls of the trigger 6b.

The first pull is illustrated in Fig.V 25. The counter-clockwise motion of the trigger (arrow h) causes a clockwise turning of the latch 38h (arrow i) because of the pressure of the heel Si! against the setting rod 41h. The same motion of the trigger is imparted to the auxiliary sear (arrow y' Fig. 25). The right sear lb is lifted (arrow lc) causing the firing of the right barrel.

However, the left sear b remains in the down position and the now released auxiliary sear 24D may swing forwardly only far enough to bring the tooth 28h in engagement with the finger 69h of the left sear. It is Vthis engagement which again provides for the arc of idle motion emphasized before.

The voluntary release of the trigger brings the parts to the position shown in Fig. 26. The tooth 28h is now in registration with the nger 69D, and the second pull of the trigger will cause the firing of the left barrel. Fig. 24 illustrates what has been called the abnormal adjustment of the auxiliary sear. Instead of using the finger-piece (5U in Fig. l) for that purpose, the lever 88 is pushed in the clockwise direction from the dotted to the full line position, causing the latch head 8| to engage the tooth 2lb. This adjustment holds the tooth 26h in registration with the finger 69D of the left sear 5b. The rst pull of the trigger then actuates the left sear to cause the ring of the left barrel first. The order of firing is then left-right, a reversal of the normally adopted arrangement.

I claim:

1. In a double-barreled firearm having hammers for the respective barrels, sears to hold the hammers cocked and a solitary trigger for causing the release of the hammers, movable means turnablycarried by the trigger in a normal starting position, being sequentially engageable with the hammer sears to successively actuate said sears upon consecutive pulls upon the trigger, cooking means for the hammers, including a setting device normally but automatically operative by the act of cooking to restore said movable means to said starting position, and a manually operable nger piece carried by the trigger and adapted for manual turning to set the movable means ahead of its starting position for a change in its sequence of engagement with the hammer sears.

2. In a double-barreled rearm having hammers for the respective barrels, sears to hold the hammers cocked and a solitary trigger for causing the release of the hammers, a, toothed auxiliary sear turnably carried by the trigger being engageable first with one hammer sear and then with the other hammer sear to successively release the hammers upon consecutive pulls upon the trigger, cooking means for the hammers, including a setting device adapted for rectilinear movement to shift said auxiliary sear as to its initial relationship to the hammer sears, and a latch pivoted on the trigger, having a head engaging a sear tooth to hold the sear, said latch having a heel engageable with a part of the setting device for automatic displacement of the latch upon a trigger pull to release the auxiliary sear.

3. In the receiver of a double-barreled iirearm having hammers for the respective barrels,

sears to hold the hammers cocked and a solitary trigger for causing the release of the hammers, movable means carried by the trigger, being sequentially engageable With the hammer sears to successively actuate said sears upon consecutive pulls upon the trigger, latch means to hold said movable means in a normal starting position, and means abutted with the receiver upon a pull of the trigger to displace the latch means and initiate the departure of the movable means from said starting position for the completion of its sequence.

4. In the receiver of a double-barreled firearm having hammers for the respective barrels, sears to hold the hammers cocked and a solitary trigger for causing the release of the hammers, movable means carried by the trigger and adapted to assume progressively stepped positions to engage the respective hammer sears in sequence upon consecutive pulls upon the trigger, latch means carried by the trigger being engageable with said movable means to hold the latter in each of its stepped positions, and means abutting the receiver upon each voluntary trigger pull, causing displacement of the latch means to release the movable means preparatory to its stepping to the next position.

5. In a lock mechanism for a double-barreled firearm having hammers and sears therefor, said sears having confronting fingers, a solitary trigger pivoted contiguously to said sears, an auxiliary sear movably carried by the trigger, said auxiliary sear having a series of staggered teeth plane-surfaced the full height of the auxiliary sear and alternately in line with the respective fingers, a spring constantly tending to move the auxiliary sear toward the hammer sears to register alternate teeth with the sear fingers thereby to sequentially actuate the hammer sears upon Successive pulls on the trigger, said full-height teeth insuring against actuation of a sear by an involuntary after pull of the trigger, and a latch carried by the trigger successively engaging and holding the auxiliary sear between trigger pulls.

6. In a lock mechanism for a double-barreled rearm having hammers and sears therefor, said sears having confronting fingers, a solitary trigger pivoted contiguously to said sears, said trigger having a recess with a bore, an auxiliary sear movably mounted in the recess, said auxiliary sear having a series of staggered teeth alternately in line with the respective fingers and also having other teeth, a spring pushing between the auxiliary sear and a part of the trigger constantly tending to move the auxiliary sear toward the hammer sears to register alternate teeth with the sear fingers, thereby to sequentially actuate the hammer sears upon successive pulls on the trigger, and a spring latch mounted in the bore successively engaging said other teeth of the auxiliary sear to hold it against said spring tension during a voluntary relaxation of nger pressure against the trigger between pulls.

'7. In a lock mechanism for a double-barreled firearm having a trigger plate and hammers, said rearm having hammer sears with confronting Vfingers, a solitary trigger pivoted contiguously to said plate and hammer sears, said trigger having a recess lwith a bottom having a bore, an auxiliary sear movably carried by the trigger in said recess to ride upon the bottom, said auxlliary sear having a series of staggered teeth alternately in line with the respective ngers and also having other teeth, a spring constantly tending to move the auxiliary sear toward the hammer sears to register alternate teeth with the sear iingers, thereby to sequentially actuate the hammer sears upon successive pulls upon the trigger, a spring latch operable in the bore successively engaging said other teeth of the auxiliary Sear to hold it against said spring tension during a voluntary relaxation of nger pressure against the trigger between pulls, and means carried by the latch being engageable With the trigger plate upon a voluntary pull of the trigger to automatically depress the latch and release the auxiliary sear preparatory to an advance thereof by its respective spring and upon the relaxation of nger pressure upon the trigger.

8. In a trigger mechanism, a trigger having a recess provided With a bottom and a bore in the bottom, a rod xedly carried by the trigger in spaced relationship to the bottom and across the bore, an auxiliary sear slidable on the rod, a spring abutting one end of the auxiliary sear and a portion of the trigger, and a spring latch in the bore releasably engageable with the auxiliary sear.

9. In a trigger mechanism, a trigger having spaced upward extensions defining a recess, said recess having a bottom with a bore, the side walls of the trigger being slotted in communication with the bore, a rod fixed in the extensions in parallelism to the bottom, being spaced therefrom and overlying the bore, an auxiliary sear slidable on the rod, a spring abutting one end of the auxiliary sear and one of the extensions, a spring latch operable in the bore projecting therefrom to obstruct the auxiliary sear, and pins projecting laterally from the latch through the slots for engagement to displace the latch and release the auxiliary sear.

10. In a trigger mechanism, a trigger having spaced upward extensions dening a recess, said recess having a bottom with a pocket, an auxiliary Sear situated in the recess comprising a midportion having a toothed upper edge, said teeth having lateral enlargements extending to alternately opposite sides of the mid portion, a pivot plate constituting a continuation of said mid portion and being turnably situated in said pocket, turnable means pivotally supporting said plate on the trigger, a spring tending to turn the auxiliary Sear in one direction, and a spring latch movably mounted on one of the extensions, having a head to engage the teeth and a heel adapted for depression to move the latch.

11. In the receiver of a double-barreled firearm having hammers for the respective barrels, sears to hold the hammers cocked and a solitary trigger for causing the release of the hammers, movable means carried by the trigger to actuate the hammer sears upon consecutive voluntary pulls upon the trigger, and successive contact places embodied in said movable means, sequentially riding upon portions of the respective sears, said contact places having uninterrupted plane surfaces from top to bottom of the movable means to assure an unobstructed arc of idle motion of said movable means against the respective sear during an involuntary after-pull of the trigger, thereby to prevent an inadvertent actuation of said sear and to effect a temporary holding of the movable means back from an advance to the next hammer sear.

FREDERICK T. FAHLEN. 

